# Ernest Shackleton - Source: Kiddle (kids.kiddle.co), CC BY-SA 3.0, Kiddle encyclopedia, adapted from Wikipedia - Reading level: Grade 5 - Subjects: Explorers, People, History - Topics: shackleton, south, ernest, pole, expedition, ship - Length: 1202 words, about 9 min - Published: 2026-01-01 - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: ![Ernest Shackleton before 1909.jpg](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-4f7e3035ae.jpg) Sir **Ernest Henry Shackleton** (born February 15, 1874 – died January 5, 1922) was a famous Anglo-Irish explorer. He led three British trips to the Antarctic, a very cold continent at the South Pole. He was one of the main people during a time called the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, when many brave explorers went to the South Pole. ## Early Life and Dreams ![Ernest Shackleton Plaque](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-11e7a8af54.jpg) Blue plaque marking the home of Ernest Shackleton at 12 Westwood Hill, Sydenham, London. Ernest Shackleton was born on February 15, 1874, in Kilkea, Ireland. His father, Henry Shackleton, wanted to join the army but couldn't because he was not healthy enough. So, he became a farmer. Ernest's mother was Henrietta Letitia Sophia Gavan. Ernest was the second of their ten children. In 1880, when Ernest was six, his family moved to Dublin. Four years later, they moved again to Sydenham in London, England. From a young age, Ernest loved to read. This made him dream of adventures. He was taught at home until he was eleven. Then he went to a school called Fir Lodge Preparatory School. At thirteen, he went to Dulwich College. Ernest didn't really like school and found his studies "boring." He once said that he didn't learn much geography at school. He felt that teachers should be careful not to make learning poetry feel like a chore. Even though he didn't love school, he still did quite well in his final year. ## Starting a Career at Sea ![HRM EHS p56](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-bcd1840efd.jpg) Shackleton in 1901, at 27 years old. Ernest was restless at school, so he was allowed to leave at 16 to work on ships. He chose to become an apprentice on a sailing ship. His father helped him get a spot on the *Hoghton Tower*, a large sailing ship. For the next four years, Shackleton learned how to be a sailor. He traveled all over the world and met many different kinds of people. He learned to get along with everyone. Two years later, he became a first mate. In 1898, he became a master mariner. This meant he could command any British ship anywhere in the world. In 1901, he joined the *Discovery* expedition as a third officer. He also became a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve. ### The Discovery Expedition (1901–1903) ![Discoveryboat](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-9e45c41a47.jpg) *Discovery* in the cold Antarctic waters. The Discovery Expedition was a British trip to the Antarctic. It was led by Robert Falcon Scott. The main goals were to discover new scientific facts and explore new places. Shackleton was very popular with the crew. Scott chose him to go on a long journey south with two other men, Edward Wilson and himself. They wanted to reach the furthest point south possible. This journey was not meant to reach the South Pole itself, but to go as far as they could. They started their journey on November 2, 1902. They reached a new record for the furthest south, at 82° 17' latitude. This was further than anyone had gone before. However, the journey was very hard. Their dogs got sick because their food was bad, and all 22 dogs died. The three men suffered from snow blindness, frostbite, and a disease called scurvy. On the way back, Shackleton became very ill and could not do his share of the work. On February 4, 1903, they finally reached their ship. Scott decided to send Shackleton home on a ship called the *Morning*. Scott said Shackleton was too sick to continue. ![Emily Dorman (Lady Shackelton)](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-e84a3e89d6.jpg) Shackleton's wife, Emily Dorman. On April 9, 1904, Ernest married Emily Dorman. They had three children: Raymond, Cecily, and Edward. Edward also became an explorer. ### The Nimrod Expedition (1907–1909) In February 1907, Shackleton shared his plans for a new Antarctic trip. It was called the Nimrod Expedition. His goal was to reach both the geographical South Pole and the South Magnetic Pole. Shackleton worked hard to get money for his trip from wealthy friends. On August 4, 1907, Shackleton received an honor called the Royal Victorian Order. ![TheSouthernParty (cropped)](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-6e13ebab64.jpg) Shackleton's South Pole team: Frank Wild, Shackleton, Eric Marshall, and Jameson Adams. On January 1, 1908, the ship *Nimrod* left New Zealand. Shackleton and three friends—Frank Wild, Eric Marshall, and Jameson Adams—started their "Great Southern Journey" on October 29, 1908. On January 9, 1909, they reached a new furthest south point, only 112 miles (180 km) from the South Pole. On this journey, they discovered the Beardmore Glacier. They were also the first people to see and travel on the South Polar Plateau. Their trip back to the ship was a race against hunger. They had only half their normal food for much of the way. Shackleton even gave his only biscuit for the day to Frank Wild, who was very sick. Wild wrote in his diary that he would never forget Shackleton's kindness. They reached their base just in time to catch the ship. Other successes of this trip included climbing Mount Erebus for the first time. They also found the location of the South Magnetic Pole. Shackleton returned to the United Kingdom as a hero. He wrote a book about his trip called *Heart of the Antarctic*. His wife, Emily, later said that when he didn't reach the Pole, he told her: "a live donkey is better than a dead lion, isn't it?" In 1910, Shackleton made three recordings about his expedition using an early sound machine. In 2010, some old cases of whisky and brandy left behind in 1909 were found. ### A Public Hero ![Ernest Shackleton Vanity Fair 1909-10-06](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-29568ada01.jpg) A cartoon of Shackleton from *Vanity Fair* magazine in 1909. When Shackleton returned home, he received many honors. King Edward VII met him and made him a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. He was also made a knight, so he became Sir Ernest Shackleton. The Royal Geographical Society gave him a gold medal. All the members of his team also received silver Polar Medals. People in Britain were very excited about Shackleton's achievements. They admired his courage and strength. People in Ireland also celebrated him, calling him an "Irishman" who almost reached the South Pole. Other famous explorers also praised him. [Roald Amundsen](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/kiddle/roald-amundsen), who was the first to reach the South Pole, said that Shackleton had won a victory that could never be beaten. Even though he was a hero, Shackleton was deeply in debt from his expedition. The government had to give him money to help pay off his most urgent bills. ### The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–1917) ![Shackleton Endurance Aurora map2](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-ernest-shackleton-7e5c1645c9.png) Voyage of the *Endurance* Drift of the *Endurance* in pack ice Sea ice drift after the *Endurance* sinks Voyage of the *James Caird* Planned trans-Antarctic route Voyage of the *Aurora* to Antarctica Retreat of the *Aurora* Supply depot route In 1914, Shackleton announced his new big trip, called the "Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition." He planned to cross the entire Antarctic continent. Two ships would be used. The *Endurance* would take the main team to the Weddell Sea. From there, Shackleton and five others would start their journey across the continent. Another ship, the *Aurora*, would take a support team to the other side of Antarctica. This team would set up supply stops with food and fuel. These supplies would help Shackleton's team finish their 1,800-mile (2,900 km) journey. ## Picture credits - George Charles Beresford / Adam Cuerden, Public domain () - QuintusPetillius, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - unidentified photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0 () - Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain () - Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain () - probably James Murray (1865–1914), Public domain () - "KITE" (unidentified Vanity Fair artist), Public domain () - Finetooth, Like tears in rain, U.S Central Intelligence Agency, Public domain ()